PRODUCT SUPPORT

Abstract

A machine erectable product support (1) comprises at least one product support defining structure (3) including a top panel (5) a bottom panel (7) and a longitudinal side wall panel (9). The product support defining structure (3) defines, in the erected product support (1), one or more product locating pockets (11). The top panel (5) comprises cutlines and foldlines (15, 17) defining a plurality of hinge panels (13) hingedly attaching a first portion (6) of the top panel (5) to a second portion (8) of the top panel (5) to enable the first portion (6) to be rotated relative to the second portion (8) to erect the product support defining structure (3) during erection of the product support (1). The bottom panel (7) comprises one or more openings, each opening being registered with a respective portion of the top panel (5) when the product support defining structure (3) is in a flat configuration to facilitate erection of the product support.

Claims

1. A machine erectable product support made from cardboard, paperboard or other lightweight foldable sheet material comprising: at least one product support defining structure comprising: a top panel comprising a first portion for providing an upper support section of the product support defining structure in the erected product support, and a second portion for providing a lower section of the product support defining structure in the erected product support; a bottom panel for providing a base of the product support defining structure in the erected product support, wherein the second portion of the top panel is secured to the bottom panel; and a longitudinal side wall panel; wherein the product support defining structure defines, in the erected product support, one or more product locating pockets; wherein the top panel comprises cutlines and foldlines defining a plurality of hinge panels hingedly attaching the first portion of the top panel to the second portion of the top panel to enable the first portion to be rotated relative to the second portion to erect the product support defining structure during erection of the product support; wherein each hinge panel is connected at one end about a foldline to the first portion of the top panel and at the other end about a foldline to the second portion of the top panel; wherein the bottom panel comprises one or more openings, each opening being registered with a respective portion of the top panel when the product support defining structure is in a flat configuration, whereby an erecting pin of an erecting machine may be inserted from the underside of the bottom panel through the opening to contact the top panel to assist in rotating the first portion of the top panel relative to the second portion of the top panel to erect the product support defining structure during erection of the product support.

2. The product support of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the top panel is adhesively secured to the bottom panel or wherein the second portion of the top panel is secured to the bottom panel using heat sealing.

3. The product support of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the top panel extends into the or each product locating pocket.

4. The product support of claim 1 wherein the second portion comprises a continuous longitudinal strip

5. The product support of claim 4 wherein the continuous longitudinal strip is located adjacent, and extends to, an inner edge of the top panel.

6. The product support of claim 1 wherein at least one opening is provided registered with a respective hinge panel of the top panel.

7. The product support of claim 1 wherein at least one opening is provided registered with a portion of the first portion of the top panel.

8. The product support of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the top panel comprises a continuous longitudinal strip, wherein the one or more openings includes one or more openings registered with respective portions of the longitudinal strip.

9. The product support of claim 1 wherein the or each product locating pocket further comprises a sidewall, the sidewall being provided by one of the plurality of hinge panels of the product support defining structure, wherein the sidewall is a longitudinal sidewall.

10. The product support of claim 1 wherein the cutlines comprise a plurality of cutlines, each defining an edge of one or more of the hinge panels.

11. The product support of claim 10 wherein each one of at least some of the plurality of cutlines further defines, in the erected product support, an edge of one of the one or more product locating pockets.

12. The product support of claim 1 wherein the product support is configured such that, when erected, the product support defining structure defines one or more product locating pockets along the longitudinal direction of the product support, each product locating pocket being defined between adjacent ones of the plurality of hinge panels, and including product locating pocket edges defined by cutlines of the product support defining structure, which cutlines define the edges of the hinge panels on either side of the product locating pocket.

13. The product support of claim 12 wherein, for each product locating pocket, one edge of each of the hinge panels between which the product locating pocket is defined is defined by a one of the cutlines of the product support defining structure, and the opposed edge of the hinge panel is defined by another one of the cutlines of the product support defining structure or by an end edge of the top panel.

14. The product support of claim 1 wherein the one or more product locating pockets are defined between hinge panels of a first subset of the plurality of hinge panels provided by the product support defining structure, and wherein a sidewall of each product locating pocket is provided by one of a second subset of the plurality of hinge panels provided by the product support defining structure, wherein an opening in the bottom panel is provided in respect of at least some of the hinge panels of the first and/or second subsets of hinge panels.

15. The product support of claim 14 wherein the product support defining structure comprises a plurality of cutlines, which, in the flat configuration of the product support defining structure, each comprise a first portion defining an edge of one of the first subset of hinge panels and a second portion defining an edge of one of the second subset of hinge panels, wherein the second portion, in the erected product support, defines at least a portion of the edge of a product locating pocket.

16. The product support of claim 14 wherein the first portion of the top panel, in the erected product support, comprises an outer region and a plurality of fingers, each finger extending from the outer region inward to a top of the second subset of hinge panels.

17. The product support of claim 1 wherein the product support is configured such that, when erected, the product support defining structure defines a plurality of product locating pockets along the longitudinal direction of the product support.

18. The product support of claim 1 wherein the one or more openings of the bottom panel comprise a plurality of openings disposed in one or more clusters, each cluster comprising a plurality of openings, the openings within each cluster being registered with portions of the top panel in a respective region of the top panel.

19. The product support of claim 1 wherein the support is of a single piece construction, for example wherein the product support is formed from a single piece blank of sheet material.

20. A method of erecting the product support of claim 1 comprising for at least some of the one or more openings in the bottom panel of the or each product support defining structure, inserting a respective erecting pin of an erecting machine from the underside of the bottom panel therethrough to contact the portion of the top panel associated with the opening, and using the pin to assist in rotating the first portion of the top panel relative to the second portion of the top panel to erect the product support defining structure during erection of the product support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0097] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0098] FIG. 1 illustrates an erected product support in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0099] FIG. 2 illustrates a blank for providing an erectable product support for providing the erected product support of FIG. 1;

[0100] FIG. 3 illustrates the erectable product support of FIG. 1 during erection;

[0101] FIG. 4 illustrates the product support of FIG. 1 from the underside indicating the direction of movement of pins during erection;

[0102] FIG. 5 illustrates an erected product support in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

[0103] FIG. 6 illustrates a blank for providing an erectable product support for providing the erected product support of FIG. 5;

[0104] FIG. 7 illustrates the product support of FIG. 5 from the underside indicating the direction of movement of pins during erection;

[0105] FIG. 8 illustrates the product support of FIG. 1 with product loaded therein;

[0106] FIG. 9 illustrates the product support of FIG. 5 with product located therein;

[0107] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a process for erecting the product support of FIG. 1;

[0108] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view illustrating the cooperation between the forming pins, the upper tool and the support;

[0109] and FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the openings in the bottom panel which may be used in embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0110] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only.

[0111] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a first embodiment of an erectable product support in accordance with the invention will be described.

[0112] FIG. 1 shows the erected product support 1. The product support 1 is made from a foldable sheet material such as paperboard or cardboard.

[0113] The product support is erected from a flat configuration. FIG. 2 illustrates a blank for providing the flat erectable product support and FIG. 3 illustrates the erectable product support once assembled from the blank. FIG. 3 illustrates the erectable product support in a configuration between its initial flat state and the erected state in order to facilitate understanding of certain features of the invention.

[0114] The product support 1 includes a first product support defining structure 3 on one longitudinal side thereof, and a second product support defining structure 3 on the other longitudinal side thereof. In the illustrated embodiment the product support defining structures 3, 3 are mirror images of one another about the longitudinal centreline of the product support 1. However, it will be appreciated that this need not be the case. Erecting the product support involves erecting each of the product support defining structures.

[0115] The features of the product support defining structure 3 will now be described. The product support defining structure 3 is of identical construction. The corresponding features of the product support defining structure 3 will be denoted using the same reference numerals as those of the structure 3, annotated by a sign. Not all features are labelled in respect of both structures, and some features are not visible in both structures as shown in FIG. 1.

[0116] The product support defining structure 3 has a top panel 5 and a bottom panel 7 and a sidewall 9. In this embodiment the bottom panel 7 is shared by the product support defining structures 3, 3. The bottom panel 7 provides a base of the product support.

[0117] The top panel 5 includes a first portion 6 defining an upper support section of the product support and a second portion 8 providing a lower section of the product support. The second portion of the top panel includes a continuous longitudinal strip 10 extending to an inner edge 12 of the top panel. The strip 10 is shown as a hatched area for ease of illustration. This strip is merely a notional part of the second portion.

[0118] The second portion of the top panel is adhesively secured to the bottom panel 7. This is facilitated by the longitudinal strip 10. Any suitable adhesive pattern may be used, and the adhesive need not extend over the entire area over which the second portion extends. Other attachment mechanisms e.g. heat sealing may alternatively be used.

[0119] The product support defining structure 3 defines a plurality of product locating pockets 11 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The pockets 11 of the product support defining structure 3 are aligned with those of the product support defining structure 3 for locating the opposed ends of a product extending transversely therebetween. In this embodiment the second portion extends into the base of each pocket 11.

[0120] It will be appreciated that the second portion of the top panel need not be continuous along the length of the product support as shown, and need not extend into the pockets. For example, the second portion might be defined by tabs extending from the base of each of the flaps 13, and may be absent in other areas e.g. between the pockets and/or within the pockets.

[0121] A first subset of upstanding hinge panels 13 connect the first portion 6 of the top panel to the second portion 8 of the top panel 5. For ease of illustration, certain features will be labelled only in relation to one of the hinge panels 13. Each hinge panel 13 is connected at its top by a foldline 15 to the first portion of the top panel and is connected at the bottom about a foldline 17 to the second portion of the top panel. The pockets 11 are defined between side edges 19 of adjacent ones of the hinge panels 13. Each hinge panel 13 is located at the end of a finger 23 extending from an outboard region of the first region 9 of the top panel. The opposed edges of the fingers 23 provide side edges 35 of the pockets 11.

[0122] A second subset of upstanding hinge panels 25 provide (longitudinal) sidewalls for the pockets 11. Each of the hinge panels 25 is connected along respective hingelines 27, 29 at the top and bottom thereof to the first portion and the second portion of the product support. An opening 31 is defined extending between the sidewall provided by hinge panel 25 and the hinge panel 13 on each side of a pocket.

[0123] The bottom panel includes an opening (not visible in FIG. 1) associated with each hinge panel 13, which extends toward the outer edge of the product support from the foldline 17 at the base of the hinge panel 13. This is used in the erection of the product support as described below. This opening underlies the finger 23 in the erected product support.

[0124] While the hinge panels 25 are shown as perpendicular to the base of the product support, this need not be the case. For example, inclined hinge panels may provide inclined sidewalls for the pockets. The sidewalls may be inclined so as to reduce the length of the pocket (i.e. in the transverse direction of the product support) with increasing depth. This may result in products being support midway between the top and the bottom of the pocket, depending upon the dimensions of the product. Such arrangements could be used to enable products of differing dimensions to be supported at differing depths, so that the tops of all products were level.

[0125] The blank for providing the product support 1 will now be described by reference to FIG. 2.

[0126] The blank includes a first panel 42 which provides the bottom panel 7 of the erectable product support, a second panel 44 for providing the sidewall 9 and a third panel 46 for providing the top panel 5 of the first product support defining structure 3. Corresponding panels 44 and 46 are provided for the second product support defining structure 3, with the bottom panel provided by panel 42 being shared. The panels are connected to one another along foldlines.

[0127] The panel 42 includes rows of openings 50, 50.

[0128] The panel 46 includes a plurality of cutlines 52. A first portion 53 of each cutline will define a side edge 19 of one of the hinge panels 13. A second portion 54 of the cutline will define a side edge 35 of one of the pockets 11. The first and second portion 53, 54 are defined on either side of the foldline 70.

[0129] The panel 46 also includes foldlines 59, 58. These foldlines provide the foldlines 29, 27 at the bottom and top of the hinge panels 25 respectively. Thus, the panels 60 between the foldlines 59, 58 will provide the hinge panels 25 corresponding to side walls of the pockets.

[0130] At least a part of the second portion 54 also defines the side edge of one of the hinge panels 60 which provide a side wall 25 of a pocket 11. For some of the deeper pockets, a longer cutline is used, such that the second portion 54 may be subdivided into a portion 55 which defines an edge of a hinge panel 60 and a connecting portion 57 extending between the portion 55 and the first portion 53.

[0131] The panel 46 also includes foldlines 70, 72 between which panels 74 are defined. The foldlines 70, 72 provide the foldlines 15, 17 at the top and bottom of the hinge panels 19 of the product support, which are provided by the panels 74.

[0132] It will be appreciated that the configuration and number of foldlines and cutlines may vary depending upon the number and configuration of pockets to be provided in the product support.

[0133] Panel 46 includes corresponding cutlines and foldlines.

[0134] In order to assemble the erectable product support, the panel 46 is folded about foldline 82 over the panel 44 and the panel 42 in the direction of the arrow. A longitudinal strip 84 at the outboard edge of the panel 46 is adhesively attached to the panel 42 inboard of the row of openings 50, between the openings and a centreline of the blank 40. The strip 84 provides the strip 10 in the product support. Regions 86 of panel 46 which define a base of the pockets in the product support may also be adhesively attached to the panel 42.

[0135] The regions which are superposed on and secured to the panel 42, and which will provide the second portion 8 of the top panel 7 in the product support, are indicated with hashed lines. Adhesive may be applied to any part of this region to provide an appropriate securement. Of course, other forms of attachment may alternatively be used e.g. heat sealing. In the case of heat sealing, a heat seal varnish or other coating may be applied to the region denoted with hashed lines to allow heat sealing to be achieved over this region.

[0136] When the blank has been folded in this way, each one of the openings 50 is registered with a one of the panels 74 which will provide a hinge panel 13 of the product support to enable an erecting pin to be inserted through the opening 50 from an underside of the panel 42.

[0137] The panel 46 is similarly folded about foldline 82 and secured to the panel 42 between the row of openings 50 and the centreline. This will result in each one of the openings 50 being registered with a one of the panels 74.

[0138] FIG. 3 illustrates the erectable product support obtained, with certain of the features of the product support labelled. In order to erect the product support, an erecting pin of an erecting machine is inserted from the underside of the bottom panel 7 through each respective one of the openings 50 so as to engage the hinge panel 13 overlying the opening 50 and thus cause the hinge panel to rotate into an upstanding position. This results in the first portion 6 of the product support defining structure rotating relative to the second portion 8. Simultaneously erecting pins will be inserted through the openings 50 associated with the product support defining structure 3 to cause rotation of the first portion 6 relative to the second portion 8. In this way the erectable product support is converted from a flat configuration to the erected configuration of FIG. 1.

[0139] FIG. 4 illustrates the erected product from the underside, showing the openings 50 through which pins may be inserted in the direction of the arrows.

[0140] A second embodiment of a product support in accordance with the invention will be described by reference to FIGS. 5-7.

[0141] FIG. 5 shows the erected product support. The product support 100 includes product support defining structures 103, 103 on either side thereof. The product support and product support defining structures are of the same general type as in the earlier embodiment, and like components are given like reference numerals incremented by 100. In this case, each product support defining structure defines only two pockets 111 along the longitudinal direction. The top panel 105 again defines a first portion 106 providing the upper section of the product support and a second portion 107 providing a lower section thereof. First and second sets of hinge panels 113, 125 are provided corresponding to the panels 13 and 25 in the earlier embodiment. Openings 131, 131 are defined along the sides of the pockets.

[0142] This embodiment differs from the earlier embodiment in the number and shape of product locating pockets defined. The side edges 135 of the pockets are curved in this embodiment.

[0143] FIG. 6 shows the blank from which the erectable product support 100 is made. As in the earlier embodiment, the erectable product support is provided by folding panel 146 over one side of panel 144 and panel 142, and panel 146 over the other side of panel 142 and panel 144. Adhesive or heat sealing may be provided in the hatched area as in the earlier embodiment.

[0144] FIG. 7 shows the erected product support from the underside. As may be seen more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, a further difference is that, in addition to the openings 150 which are registered with the hinge panels 113 when the product support is in the flat, a second set of openings 170 is provided registered with the hinge panels 125. Thus, there are first and second rows of openings including the openings 150 and 170 in respect of the hinge panels 113 and 125 respectively (and similarly 150 and 170 in respect of the second product support defining structure).

[0145] FIG. 7 illustrates the erected product support of the second embodiment showing the openings 150 and 170, and illustrating the direction of insertion of the pins.

[0146] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the erected product supports of FIGS. 1 and 5 respectively with product 200, 300 located therein. It will be seen that in the embodiment of FIG. 8, opposed ends 202, 204 of each product is located in the opposed pockets 111, 111 defined by the product support defining structures 3, 3.

[0147] The product may be any desired product, whether confectionary or other food products, or cosmetics etc. The product support may be used to locate products for insertion in a variety pack or advent calendar, for example.

[0148] It will be appreciated that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 5-7 are merely exemplary. For example, a pocket may define more than one sidewall. A net may be provided which may support a product when located in the product support in use. For example, this may extend between the opposed pockets of the first and second product support defining structures of either embodiment. In either embodiment, the sidewall(s) of a pocket may be inclined.

[0149] In the embodiments described, the inner edges of the top panel of each product support defining means are located either on the longitudinal centreline (first embodiment), or spaced laterally therefrom by the same amount (second embodiment). Of course the edges may be provided in any suitable position. It is not necessary for multiple product support defining structures to be mirror images of one another about the longitudinal centreline.

[0150] Furthermore, while the product supports are shown as being formed from a single piece blank, this is not essential, and a multi-piece arrangement may be used, including seam(s) in any location. In embodiments using a single piece blank, folding need not occur in the position shown.

[0151] It is not necessary for there to be a pair of product support defining structures. For example, a single structure, or more than two structures may be used, disposed in any desired orientation and/or position relative to one another. Multiple product support defining structures need not be of the same appearance of construction.

[0152] A method of erecting the product support of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 will now be described by reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. A robotic arm 300, or any suitable mechanism, is used to pick up the erectable product support 1 in its flat configuration from a feeder 290 including a stack of the product supports in the flat e.g. a magazine feeder or similar. FIG. 10 schematically shows the top blank being removed from the pile and then held by the robotic arm. The robotic arm includes a tool 301 at its distal end having portions shaped to extend into the portions of the support which will provide the when in the erect configuration. The robotic arm 300 locates the flat product support 1 on a forming plate 302 having a plurality of upstanding pins, arranged in two rows (including pins 304 and 304 respectively). The forming plate is one of a series of such plates which are conveyed along a machine direction of the processing line.

[0153] The pins 304 are registered with the openings 50, and the pins 304 with the openings 50. The product support is pressed down on to the forming element 302 by the tool 301 as shown in FIG. 10, urging the pins into the openings. The pins 304 engage the hinge panels 13 through the openings 50 and cause the hinge panels 13 to rotate facilitating rotation of the first portion 6 of the top panel relative to the second portion 8 of the product support defining structure 3. Likewise, pins 304 engage the hinge panels 13 through the openings 50 and cause the panels 13 to rotate to facilitate rotation of the first portion 6 of the second product support defining structure 3 relative to the second portion 8. In this way, the product support is erected.

[0154] As may be more clearly seen in FIG. 11, which is a transverse cross sectional view showing the product support being pressed on to the forming plate, the pins are tapered, having an outer inclined surface 305, 305. This may facilitate insertion of the pins, and helps maintain contact of the pins with the hinge panels as the panels start to rotate. FIG. 11 shows the support once fully erected on the pins, with the hinge panels 13,13 upstanding.

[0155] Returning to FIG. 10, the tool 301 releases the product support, and the product support travels along the production line in the direction of the arrow, supported on the forming plate 302, with the pins still located in the openings 50, 50. The product is loaded into the product support in the manner shown in FIG. 8, and schematically illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0156] The product support loaded with product is then removed from the forming plate 302 and inserted into an end of an outer package 308.

[0157] It is envisaged that in alternative embodiments, pins may be used only to provide an initial part of the rotation of the applicable hinge panels. Once movement about the applicable foldlines has commenced, it may be possible to remove the pins, and then complete erection without the pins being present. Thus, loading of the product and insertion of the support into a product may also be achieved without the product being supported on the pins.

[0158] Erection of the product support in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 proceeds in a similar manner. Here, the pins on the forming plate will need to define a pattern corresponding to the openings in the bottom panel, i.e. including pins in the corresponding positions to openings 170 and 170 as well as 150 and 150. Pins will extend through openings 150, 150 to engage the hinge panels 113 and 113 and the additional pins will extend through openings 170, 170 to engage hinge panels 125 and 125 to rotate the panels and hence facilitate rotation of the first portions 106, 106 of the first and second product support defining structures relative to the second portion 108, 108 thereof to erect the product support. Loading of the product support and insertion into the package proceed as in the earlier embodiment.

[0159] It will be appreciated that it is not necessary to provide one opening for each hinge panel, for either the sets of hinge panels for providing hinge panels 13, 13 (or 113, 113) or the set of hinge panels for providing hinge panels 25, 25 (or 125, 125). Openings may be provided for only a subset of either one or both of the sets of hinge panels. The number of openings required will depend upon factors such as the number and configuration of the pockets, the material used for the product support etc., and the amount of assistance required to erect the product support.

[0160] In addition to, or instead of providing openings registered with hinge panels of the product support, one or more openings may be provided at other openings. For example, the openings may be provided in clusters registered with parts of the first portion 6, 6 or 116, 116 of the product support 1, 100.

[0161] FIG. 12 illustrates one such arrangement by reference to the product support 1 earlier described. In addition to, or alternatively to the openings 50, 50, another set of openings may be provided in the bottom panel 7 to result in pins engaging portions of the underside of the first section 6, 6 of the top panel in each of the product support defining structures. For example, the portions may result in the pins engaging portions 251 of the first portion as shown by the dots in FIG. 12 (for ease of reference showing the locations only in respect of the second product support defining structure 3). The locations on the top panel with which the openings are registered may define clusters along the length of the product support section as illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings are associated with an outer portion of the first portion which defines a continuous longitudinal strip i.e. outboard of the fingers 23, 23 denoted by the hatched region. However, this need not be the case. There also need not be more than one cluster, or indeed, more than one pin/opening at each position along the length of the product. It will be understood that the openings should be located appropriately in the bottom panel such that they will engage portions corresponding to those portions of the top panel indicated in FIG. 12 when the product support in in the flat configuration. Corresponding openings may be provided to enable pins to engage the first product support defining structure in corresponding locations (although not illustrated in FIG. 12).

[0162] Similarly, alternative or additional openings for providing corresponding pin locations may be provided associated with the first portion of the top panel in the embodiment of FIG. 5-7 or any other embodiment.

[0163] In general, the openings of a product support defining structure may be arranged to enable pins to contact the top panel, whether a hinge panel or first section defined thereby, in any locations to facilitate erection, which may generally be around each, or a subset of the pockets defined by the product support defining structure, but need not be e.g. may be at either end of the first section etc.

LIST OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0164] For the avoidance of doubt, the numbering of the embodiments below refers to the numbering of the embodiments in this list of embodiments.

Embodiment 1

[0165] A machine erectable product support made from cardboard, paperboard or other lightweight foldable sheet material comprising: [0166] at least one product support defining structure comprising: [0167] a top panel comprising a first portion for providing an upper support section of the product support defining structure in the erected product support, and a second portion for providing a lower section of the product support defining structure in the erected product support; [0168] a bottom panel for providing a base of the product support defining structure in the erected product support, wherein the second portion of the top panel is secured to the bottom panel; [0169] and a longitudinal side wall panel; [0170] wherein the product support defining structure defines, in the erected product support, one or more product locating pockets; [0171] wherein the top panel comprises cutlines and foldlines defining a plurality of hinge panels hingedly attaching the first portion of the top panel to the second portion of the top panel to enable the first portion to be rotated relative to the second portion to erect the product support defining structure during erection of the product support; [0172] wherein each hinge panel is connected at one end about a foldline to the first portion of the top panel and at the other end about a foldline to the second portion of the top panel; [0173] wherein the bottom panel comprises one or more openings, each opening being registered with a respective portion of the top panel when the product support defining structure is in a flat configuration, whereby an erecting pin of an erecting machine may be inserted from the underside of the bottom panel through the opening to contact the top panel to assist in rotating the first portion of the top panel relative to the second portion of the top panel to erect the product support defining structure during erection of the product support.

Embodiment 2

[0174] The product support of embodiment 1 wherein the one or more openings of the bottom panel comprise a plurality of openings disposed in one or more clusters, each cluster comprising a plurality of openings, the openings within each cluster being registered with portions of the top panel in a respective region of the top panel.

Embodiment 3

[0175] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein at least one opening is provided registered with a respective hinge panel of the top panel.

Embodiment 4

[0176] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein at least one opening is provided registered with a portion of the first portion of the top panel.

Embodiment 5

[0177] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the cutlines comprise a plurality of cutlines, each defining an edge of one or more of the hinge panels.

Embodiment 6

[0178] The product support of embodiment 5 wherein each one of at least some of the plurality of cutlines further defines, in the erected product support, an edge of one of the one or more product locating pockets.

Embodiment 7

[0179] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the product support is configured such that, when erected, the product support defining structure defines one or more product locating pockets along the longitudinal direction of the product support, each product locating pocket being defined between adjacent ones of the plurality of hinge panels, and including product locating pocket edges defined by cutlines of the product support defining structure, which cutlines define the edges of the hinge panels on either side of the product locating pocket.

Embodiment 8

[0180] The product support of embodiment 7 wherein, for each product locating pocket, one edge of each of the hinge panels between which the product locating pocket is defined is defined by a one of the cutlines of the product support defining structure, and the opposed edge of the hinge panel is defined by another one of the cutlines of the product support defining structure or by an end edge of the top panel.

Embodiment 9

[0181] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the or each product locating pocket further comprises a sidewall, the sidewall being provided by one of the plurality of hinge panels of the product support defining structure, optionally wherein the sidewall is a longitudinal sidewall.

Embodiment 10

[0182] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the one or more product locating pockets are defined between hinge panels of a first subset of the plurality of hinge panels provided by the product support defining structure, and wherein a sidewall of each product locating pocket is provided by one of a second subset of the plurality of hinge panels provided by the product support defining structure, wherein an opening in the bottom panel is provided in respect of at least some of the hinge panels of the first and/or second subsets of hinge panels.

Embodiment 11

[0183] The product support of embodiment 10 wherein the product support defining structure comprises a plurality of cutlines, which, in the flat configuration of the product support defining structure, each comprise a first portion defining an edge of one of the first subset of hinge panels and a second portion defining an edge of one of the second subset of hinge panels, wherein the second portion, in the erected product support, defines at least a portion of the edge of a product locating pocket.

Embodiment 12

[0184] The product support of embodiment 10 or embodiment 11 wherein the first portion of the top panel, in the erected product support, comprises an outer region and a plurality of fingers, each finger extending from the outer region inward to a top of the second subset of hinge panels.

Embodiment 13

[0185] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the product support is configured such that, when erected, the product support defining structure defines a plurality of product locating pockets along the longitudinal direction of the product support.

Embodiment 14

[0186] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the second portion comprises a continuous longitudinal strip.

Embodiment 15

[0187] The product support of embodiment 14 wherein the continuous longitudinal strip is located adjacent, and extends to, an inner edge of the top panel.

Embodiment 16

[0188] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the first portion of the top panel comprises a continuous longitudinal strip, wherein the one or more openings includes one or more openings registered with respective portions of the longitudinal strip.

Embodiment 17

[0189] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the erectable product support comprises a pair of said product support defining structures, one on each longitudinal side thereof.

Embodiment 18

[0190] The product support of embodiment 17 wherein the or each product locating pocket defined by the product support defining structure on one side of the product support is aligned with a corresponding product locating pocket of the product support defining structure on the other side of the product support for supporting opposed ends or sides of a product extending therebetween.

Embodiment 19

[0191] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the support is of a single piece construction.

Embodiment 20

[0192] The product support of any one of the preceding embodiments wherein the erectable product support is formed from a blank of sheet material, preferably a single piece blank.

Embodiment 21

[0193] A method of erecting the product support of any one of the preceding embodiments comprising; [0194] for at least some of the one or more openings in the bottom panel of the or each product support defining structure, inserting a respective erecting pin of an erecting machine from the underside of the bottom panel therethrough to contact the portion of the top panel associated with the opening, and using the pin to assist in rotating the first portion of the top panel relative to the second portion of the top panel to erect the product support defining structure during erection of the product support.

Embodiment 22

[0195] The method of embodiment 21 further comprising locating one or more product in the product support and then inserting the product support in an outer package.

Embodiment 23

[0196] The method of embodiment 22 further comprising supporting the product support on the erection pins during loading of the product.

Embodiment 24

[0197] The method of any one of embodiments 21 to 23 wherein the erection pins define at least one axially extending tapered surface.

Embodiment 25

[0198] The method of any one of embodiments 21 to 24 wherein the step of inserting the pins through the openings comprises pressing the erectable product support onto a forming element having upstanding pins mounted thereon.

Embodiment 26

[0199] The method of embodiment 25 wherein the pressing is performed using a tool including one or more portions for insertion into respective ones of the one or more product locating pockets defined by the product support.